Solicitation of casino- account generates lawsuit

Tuesday, May 29, 2001 | 11:08 a.m.

A Las Vegas pest control company sued two former salesman, alleging they breached a one-year non-compete agreement when they allegedly solicited Circus Circus hotel-casino, one of its customers.

Ecolab Inc. sued John Keoni Sylva, whom it said was hired in June 1998 and left on March 1, and Frank Gonzalves, who was hired in November 1993 and left on March 28, in Clark County District Court.

The suit said Sylva violated his agreement when he joined Prochem, an Ecolab rival, and allegedly solicited Circus Circus for business. Ecolab said it fired Gonsalves for allegedly soliciting the hotel-casino, on behalf of Prochem, while still employed with Ecolab.

But Sylva, who claims he was fired for "unjust cause," denied the charges.

"I had no link to the Circus Circus account while I was with Ecolab. I was with my boss, Prochem, which was cold-calling Circus Circus, when coincidentally, a cockroach got cooked in a pot and the hotel staff brought the plate to an executive chef's office, and asked us for our opinion."

"And Frank was fired for no just reason too. He's not an employee of Prochem. He was just visiting a friend there, and was fired for something he didn't do," he said.

Gonzalves could not be reached for comment.